Water-vehicle.



No. 872,140. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907? J. MIKULASEK. WATER VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 27.. 19.01.

2SHEETS-SEEET 1.

I/VITNESSES r. INVENTOR No. 872,140. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

' J. MIKULASEK.

WATER VEHICLE,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

2 SHEETSSHBI iT 2.

WITNESSES; lNVli/VTOR Q Allorlzeys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, JOHN MIKULASEK, or GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-VEHICLE- a so, 872,140.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known-that 1, JOHN MIKULAsEK, a

' citizen of the United States of America, re-

- as may be disclosed as the description proble of driving t evessel at considerable speed:

With these and such other objects in view' ceeds', the invention consists of the .novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and set forth in the appended claims,lin'connection with the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of thisspecification.

Inthe drawing :.Fig ure 1 is a view in perspective, of a pedalrepelled vessel embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rear end. of the vessel, Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectionof the propeller floats employed, Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the central girder of the structure, and one of the seat-posts supported'thereon, Fig.6 is a longitudinal section of the casting secured to the rear ends of the propeller floats, and, Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the central girder showin parts in elevation. The frame of the vesse comprises parallel longitudinal bars 1, connected at their ends by cross-bars 2, depending corner sup orts 3 and arallel downwardly-curved guards 4 secured oneat each side of the frame and to the lower ends of-the. adj acent corner supports 3. These several parts'forming theirame are preferably constructed of steel to provide a strong and substantial structure, and the frame .is strengthened and reinforced by inclined braces 5.: l

The cross bars 2 of the frame are connected by a girder- 6 disposed centrally between the frame side bars 1 and f0 ed with oppositelyprojecting flanges 7 at its ends to facilitate its be I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 27. 1907. Serial No. 375.877.

secured to the: 'cross bars. This centralguder Eris of channel forni',' and Patented Nov. 26, 1907,

of inverted U-shape in cross section, to adapt it to contain the main driving sprocket chain 8, and other elements of the propelling mechanism.

Supported upon the central girder 6 are any preferred number of supports provided with seats 9 and a steering post 10, the latter being located at the front of the vessel. Each of the seat posts consists oftwo hollowed telescopic sections 11 and 12, the

lower" end of the lower section 11 being s e cured to the girder 6 by a screw coupling 13 having a head. 14eXtending up into the port and secured thereto while its threaded body portion projects through an opening in the top portion of the girder, and is secured by a nut 15 (Fig. 5.)

Each of the fourcorner su ports 3, is provided with a bearing 18 in W 11011 are revolubly supported the shafts 19 of the pro eller floats 20, said floats being hollow an constructed of either wood or metal with metallic covers, and having their ends tapered in opposite directions. To the forward end of each of said floats is secured a conical casting 21 having an opening for the passage of the shaft 19, and to the rear end of each of the floats is secured. a casing 22 of the same general contour as the casting 21, but havin an extending bearing 23 and an lntegral sprocket gear wheel 24.- Each of the propeller floats'is provided on its exterior with a spirally and slantingly disposed propeller blade or worm 25, extending throughout the length of the float, andof such pitch as to 111- sure the maximum working action against the water.

In front of each of the seat posts, a crankshaft 26 is supported in bearings found 1n the Adjustably secured to each of the intermediate posts is a curvedv arm 16 "supporting the handle bars 17.

vertical sides of the central girder 6, each of i said shafts havin crank-arms 27 equipped with pedals 28: '.%lpon each of the shafts 26 is mounted a sprocket wheel 29 engaging'the endless sprocket chain 8 which travels withln the channel30 of the central girder .as best 7 shown in-Fi '5. In rear 0% the rear seat-post a shaft 31 is mounted in bearings found in the central tire -shaft 31 are mounted :oppos1tely-dis posed bevclgears 33' mesl\ingwithbevel pin+ ions 34 :]uo-unted. u'ponwthe lorwanl ends of longitudinally dis )osed sh afts 3 5 supported in bearings 36 atopposi'te sides of the end of each ofthe shafts.35 1s a sprocket gear 37,v

said gears being feomieeted by sprocket chains 3Sjwiththe sprocket gears. 24 on the:

rearends-of the propeller floats.

' pTOinSure'the engagement of the sprocket" mounted flanged guard rollers 42 preferably provided with rubber tires.

" As'shown inlugs; -5 and 7 the driving chain,8 is held in working engagement with the sprocket wheels 29 and the propelling power is transmitted by said chain to the rear shaft 31 which constitutes the main driving shaft for revolving 'the propeller floats. The steering apparatus compr ses the post 10 arranged in front of the seat posts and extending through bearings 43- support ed by the girder 6, and a rudder 44 secured to the lower end of the post. The rudder post 10 is adapted to be readily turned by its handle bars 17 manipulated by the occupant of -the forward seat.

The bearing employed for the revoluble arts of the mechanism are preferably ballearings, it being important to secure an easy revolution of the pedal shafts and propeller floats with the minimum loss by fric tion. I

Theriders seats 9 and handle-bars 17- are vertically adjustable to accommodate differentriders and it will be noted that the edal gearing and driving chain are conncctc and protected within the hollow central girder.

From the under side of each of the curved" guards 4 depends a rib or flange 4, said ribs preventing the circulation of water in the direction of revolution of the pro eller floats, which might tend to decrease t e efliciency of the revolving movement of the floats. The guards 4 ]protect the propeller from eont'act with roe s or otherobstructions in the .water. r .Theoperation of the mechanism will be readily understood without further detail exfloats are revolved by the revolution oftheplanation'. lt-is olivious that the propeller pedal crank-shaft through the intermediacy of the gearing and chains shown and de-' scribed, and the rudderis readily turned to steer the craft by the turning of the rudderpost. v r v I would have 1t understood that the invention is not restricted to all of the details shown, but includesall such miiior changes 1 2 or modifications as mayjfall within the terms and scope ofrthe claimsp ent, is,

I I aving fully described my invention what i i ,7 I I claim and desire to secure byLettersPat 1. In a pedal propelled boat, the .coinbina-y tion with a-supporting frame havingaicen trallydisposed hollow girder, =of corner sup-4' ports (iependingi froln said fran'ie and pro-f vid'edwith shaft bearings, shafts mounted in said bearings, propeller-floats"niounted on. v

said shafts, guards secured to; said corner supports and extending below said floats, pedal shafts having a bearing. in said girder, riders-seats supported on said girder, and

belts and gearing for revolving saidfloats from said pedal shafts.

2. In a pedalpropelled' boat, the combine:

tion with-a supporting frame,.of a central girder of inverted U-shape in cross-section, seat and rudder posts supported above said girder, propeller-floats mounted uponshafts having hearings in said frame, pedal shafts supported in bearings formed in the sides of said girder, sprocket wheels mounted on said pedal-shafts within said girder, a 7 driving shalt also mounted in bearings of the girder,

a sprocket wheel on said driving shaft,- a

sprocket cham engaging sald sprocket wheels,

and connections between said driving shaft and. propeller floats for revolving the latter.

3. In a pedal-propelled boat, the combination with a supporting frame, of a central girder of inverted Ushape in cross-section, seat and rudder posts supported above said girder, propeller floats mounted upon shafts,

having bearings in said frame, pedal shafts supported in bearings formed in the sides of said girder," s rocket wheels, mounted on said pedal-sha ts within said girder, a driv- .ing shaftalso mounted in bearings of the girder, a sprocket wheel on said .driving' shaft, a sprocket chain. engaging said sprocket wheels, and connections between said driving shaft and 'rop'eller floats for revolving the latter, said connections comprising bevel gears on the ends of the driving shaft, parallel shafts supported on opposite I sides 0 the girder, bevel inions on the front ends of said parallel sha s, sprocket Wheels on the rear ends of said parallel shafts, a s rocket on each of the pro eller'shafts', and chains connecting the prope ler shaft sprock ets with the sprockets on said parallel shafts.

4. In a edal' propelled boat, the combi-b' nationwit a su porting frame, comprising parallel longitudinal bars, transverse ibars' and depending corner supportsprovided with connected at opposite sides of the frame to the corner [sup orts, a centrally-disposed longitudinal gir er of inverted U-shaPe incross section, seat and rudder-posts carried shaft bearings, of downwardly curved guards by said girder, pedal shafts and a driving shaft mounted in bearings of the girder, sprockets on said shafts, propeller-floats mounted upon shafts supported 1n the bearings ofsaid corner-supports, sprocket gear connections between said driving shaft and the shafts of the propeller floats, a chain connecting said sprockets and means for maintaining the edal-shaft-sprockets in engagement with said chain;

5. In a pedal propelled boat, the combination wit 1 a supporting frame, comprising parallel longitudlnal bars, transverse bars and depending corner supports provided with shaft bearings, and. shafts mounted in said bearings of downwardlycurved guards connected at opposite sides of the frame to the corner supports, a centrally disposed longitudinal girder of inverted Ushape in ('-l'osssection, seats and rudder posts carried by said. girder, pedal shafts anda driving shaft mounted in bearings of the girder, sprockets on said shafts, propeller floats mounted u ion the shafts supported. in the hearings of and the shafis of the propeller float s, a chain connecting said sprockets, and means for maintaining the pedal shaft sprockets in engagement with said chain, said means comprising brackets secured nithin the girder, and rollers supported by said brackets and bearing u )()]1 san said corner-supports, sprocket gear connections between said driving shaft on said shafts, a sprocket chain connectin said s oekeits, propeller floats mounte upon s rafts having hearings in the frame, one on either side of said central girder,

bevel gears on the ends of the driving shaft,

parallel shafts mounted in hearings on opposite sides of the irder, bevel gears on the front ends of said shafts meshnn with the gears of the driving-shaft, sprocket wheels on the rear ends of said parallel shafts, conical castings on the rear ends of the propeller floats and each formed with a sprocket gear, and. chains connecting the sprockets on said parallel shafts, with the sprockets on said castings. I

7. In a pedal-propelled boat, the/combi-v nation with a frame comprising longitudinal bars, transverse bars connecting the ends of said longitudinal bars and depending corner supports or guards connecting the lower.

ends of said corner supports at each side of the structure, of a propeller float revolubly supported in bearingsabove each of said guards, at centrally-disposed girder of inverted U-shape in cross-section supported upon said transverse bars, a rudder "post supported in a'bearin on said girder, a rudder secured to sair 0st between the propeller-iloats, pedal sha ts having bearings m said girder, and sprocket gearing carried by said girder for revolving said propeller floats from said pedal shafts.

in tesi imony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN MIKULASEK. Witnesses:

M. 1. BLACK. 

